Gryphon and His Thief (11 page)

"Before I decided to take the job with her, I
did some research, but didn't come up with anything to indicate she
wasn't on the up and up. It was just my gut feeling that made me
hesitate." His golden brown eyes were truly beautiful, even with
them shielded behind dark-rimmed glasses.

"What did you say about hunches and inklings?
Hmm?" He gave her a lopsided smile, and didn't that just make him
even more adorable.

She was doing it again, wasn't she? She let
out a tired sigh and made an executive decision on her part before
she did something stupid like tell him how adorable he was, and
maybe even suggest they kiss just to see if they were compatible.
Yep, she was losing it. Sleep deprived and a bump on her head would
do that to a person. She frowned wondering if she should chance
sleeping. She could have a concussion and—

"Calli? What's wrong?" Darrien asked.
Apparently, he'd been talking to her for the last thirty seconds
and she completely zoned out.

"I'm sorry." She hastily stood just to put
some distance between them, so she could breathe. Her hasty
departure from the chair increased Darrien's worry and he took a
step toward her, but she lifted her hand to ward him away. Her
heart pounded painfully hard and she couldn't seem to catch her
breath. "Is it hot in here?" she asked and pulled at her
T-shirt.

"You're hyperventilating," Darrien told her.
"You have to slow down your breathing or you'll pass out."

The room spun and she teetered on her
feet.

"Calli," Darrien called to her and this time
she couldn't keep him away. His hand snaked out to stop her fall,
but the jolt of electricity that sizzled between them sparked to
life once more. She shielded her eyes and cried out as the light,
radiating around them blinded her.

Chapter Twelve

One moment Calli felt her body shutting down
then the next second her body catapulted in another direction,
somewhere else…somewhere foreign and yet familiar too. Had she
passed out? Was this a dream or a vision? She blinked…and reopened
her eyes, hoping to see the inside of the Museum, but nothing
changed.

* * * * *

She stood beneath the sky where the sun shone
bright above, and in front of her the ocean glistened blue and
green like sparkling diamonds. She could swear the scent of the sea
tickled her nostrils. Never had she had such a vivid dream where
she could decipher such sensations.

Giggling caught her ears and she whirled to
the right of her where footprints in the golden sand led to rocks
up ahead. Curious, she ventured forth.

As she neared, she could make out voices,
cheerful banter and teasing. Her trek led her to the other side of
the rugged terrain to find a group of young people gathered as they
enjoyed the sun and food that was spread out on a blanket.

Her gaze took in each face with interest.
They were young, teenagers and seemingly friends. There were three
boys and two girls. She studied their faces but halted when she
realized one of the boys was Darrien, a very young Darrien as a
teen, before he'd reached his full height. His face was void of
lines brought on by heartache and years of isolation. This was a
happier time for him, before the curse, before he'd lost his wife.
Her gaze shifted to the girl beside him with interest. She bore a
striking resemblance to her, so much so it made the hairs on her
arm stand up on end.

"Callista," she breathed. This was the woman
Darrien had loved. She strode closer, confident no one could see
her. This was her vision quest, or whatever it was. She was an
observer and nothing more.

Callista wore a brightly colored
peplos,
with a gold belt decorated with jewels. An emerald
brooch pinned at her right shoulder finished off the outfit.
Elaborate braids decorated her hair in a flattering way to keep the
long strands away from her face. Darrien leaned over and whispered
something in Callista's ear. She pulled back with a laugh then
jumped to her feet at a gallop. Darrien gave chase and Callista
giggled as she ran away, but not too fast, making it obvious she
wanted to be caught.

His hand snaked out and grabbed Callista's
arm, bringing her to a halt. Her lips curved into a grin as he
pulled her into a lover's embrace. The way they gazed at each other
was like no other existed on the beach. What she wouldn't do to
have someone gaze at her in such a way. Loved as if nothing else
mattered.

A girl's scream penetrated the air and the
moment was lost as the two lovers parted in alarm.

Darrien looked toward the ocean and Calli
followed his line of vision. Had someone screamed from the water? A
cry for help came again and this time Calli spotted someone adrift,
with hands frantically waving in the air. Darrien glanced at
Callista with a few words. She nodded and Darrien broke into a full
run toward the water. He never paused his stride as he dived under
the waves. In the matter of seconds, he broke the surface where the
girl still struggled to keep her head above the water.

Calli breathed a sigh of relief as she saw
Darrien had the girl and was making his way back to the shore. The
other teens had gathered and Callista offered a cloak to put around
the girl, who appeared to be a few years younger than the rest of
the group. If Calli guessed, the child was no more than twelve or
thirteen.

Something seemed oddly familiar about the
girl Darrien had saved, but Calli couldn't quite put her finger on
why. Dark straight hair plastered the girl's face, but she brushed
it aside to peer up at Darrien with nothing short of hero
worship.

"What were you doing out there?" Darrien
asked the girl.

It took Calli a moment to realize they
weren't speaking English, but Greek, or rather a dialect similar,
and she could understand them perfectly.

"You know the waters are treacherous this
time of day, Isa" he reprimanded her further.

Isa?
She regarded the child curiously.
The girl Darrien saved was Isa. She was tall, but all gangly limbs.
This child would one day be the cold-blooded killer who took
Callista's life? The girl's lips chattered and her eyes were wide
with fear. It made it difficult to believe such innocence could
turn into something so hateful.

Isa's lips pouted and she looked as if she
would burst into tears. "I'm sorry," she said between chattering
teeth. "The water looked so inviting, and I couldn't resist." Then
she did sob big tears and her chest heaved as she tried to draw in
a breath.

Darrien didn't seem to know what to do with a
weeping child. Finally, he just pulled her into an embrace and
patted her back. "It is all right. You are safe." He held her as he
would a little sister, giving her comfort and naught else, but
Calli could see it in Isa's face as she rested her chin on his
shoulders. She thought the embrace meant more. Her tears dried
almost instantly and her arms went around him as if she relished
the feel of him against her.

A niggling in the back of her mind made Calli
wonder if Isa had truly been in trouble or if the girl had planned
the whole fiasco just to see if Darrien would come to her rescue.
No, she wouldn't have, would she?

Isa's lips began to curve like a satisfied
cat. "You really do care for me," Isa said, but Calli knew she
meant more to that statement.

"Of course I care for you," he answered and
pulled away so he could look at her. "Don't scare me like that
again."

"No, never," she said and threw herself into
his arms again.

Calli glanced at the others who were there,
but they didn't seem to notice Isa had designs on Darrien. Even
Callista didn't seem fazed that the girl hung onto Darrien as if he
were her life support.

Calli wondered if she could see it because
she already knew what Isa was capable of doing. At this time and
place, Isa was only a child infatuated with a boy. Calli took a
step to move closer, but the world around her shifted again, and
she found herself in another place and time.

This time Isa was following Darrien, who was
with friends his own age, but he didn't seem to mind that Isa
tagged along.

"I'll race you to the top of the mountain,"
one of the boys with a crop of blond hair announced to the
group.

"I don't know," Darrien shook his head and
jabbed a thumb in Isa's direction. "I don't think she'll be able to
keep up."

Calli could tell he was teasing, but Isa's
face scrunched up and she stamped her foot.

"Can too keep up. I can fly faster than any
of you."

"Is that so?" Darrien's face broke into a
grin. "What do you say, my friends," he glanced at his buddies,
"should we put it to the test?"

"We'll give you a head start, Isa," the brown
haired boy told her. "Seeing as you're a few years younger than we
are. It's only fair." He brushed his hair back from his brow. Once
Isa glanced his way, his face flushed red.

Calli had a hunch this boy was smitten with
Isa, but she didn't seem to notice. She only had eyes for
Darrien.

"I can keep up with the best of you. I don't
need a head start," Isa claimed.

"Well then—" Darrien began, but was
interrupted.

"Darrien, wait up!" someone called to
him.

Calli turned as the others did, too. Callista
was in the distance waving to them.

"Her again," Isa said with a roll of her
eyes. "Doesn't the mere human know she can't come with us? She
can't fly."

Darrien glanced at her with a chuckle. "She
can fly if she's on my back." He jogged to meet Callista halfway,
leaving Isa to stare after him, crestfallen that he chose Callista
over her.

"Be glad, Isa," the brown haired boy said.
"You're sure to beat Darrien now, if he's carrying Callista. She
may be petite, but she is still extra weight."

She threw the boy a disgruntled look. "I
don't want her to come with us. She's not of our tribe."

"Darrien likes her," the blond boy said. "And
besides, Callista is nice. She makes the best sweets."

Again Isa grumbled and started walking away
with her head down.

"Hey, little one, where are you off to?"
Darrien called after Isa, as he approached the group with Callista
on his arm.

"You don't want me tagging along," Isa
grumbled without turning around.

Darrien frowned, but called after her. "Of
course I do."

Isa halted her steps and glanced over her
shoulder. Her gaze seemed to lock onto where Darrien's hand rested
on Callista's arm. Isa's features hardened. "I don't want to play
your silly game of who can fly the fastest." This time when she
turned away, she didn't look back.

"I don't believe she likes me," Callista
said.

Darrien laughed it off and gave her a kiss.
"What's not to like about you? You're funny."

"And you're beautiful," the brown haired boy
spoke up with a smile.

"And you make us treats," the blond haired
boy added, which won him a slap on the back by the brown haired
boy.

"Is that all you think about? You're
stomach?

"I'm a growing Gryphon, of course I do," the
brown haired boy replied.

Calli turned to see where Isa had gone. She
stood high above them, gazing down at Darrien and Callista.

Calli frowned as her gaze caught sight of
Isa's eyes glimmering like gold. She wasn't just disappointed that
she wouldn't have the afternoon with Darrien, she was furious.

Again the landscape changed, and it took her
a moment to regain her footing. These visions were taking a toll on
her, and her stomach rolled to bring home the point.

This time she was indoors. Whitewalls of a
Greek style villa decorated with mosaics and wall paintings met her
gaze.

"There you are."

She whirled around at the sound of a deep
rumbling voice of good cheer and was surprised to find Darrien
standing in the archway, tall and sure and good looking as ever.
She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a word, a
female voice answered him. Her gaze riveted to the right of her
with surprise. She hadn't noticed someone else had been in the room
with her.

Callista sauntered by her with graceful
steps. She was no longer a young girl, but a woman, probably close
to Calli's age. Up close, the resemblance to her was uncanny.

"What took you so long?" Callista said to
Darrien and her lips curved as she walked into his embrace.
Callista wore a rich colored, floor-length
peplos
.
Surprisingly, no shoes adorned her feet. Elegant smooth toes peeked
out from beneath her gown.

Darrien sported a dark blue chiton, red
cloak, and sandals adorned his feet, an outfit similar to the one
she saw Beastie Darrien wearing when she first met him.

"There has been trouble," Darrien told her.
"A thief has stolen from the treasury and I must go after him."

Disappointment marred Callista's features. "I
wish your duties did not take you away this night. I have news of
my own, sweet husband." Her hand caressed his cheek, and he leaned
into her palm. "Though, my announcement is not so daunting."

"And what is it you wish to share? You have
my full attention, I must say."

She sighed. "I wanted to tell you over a late
night meal, but I am bursting with happiness and cannot wait. I am
with child." Her hand went to her flat stomach as if the evidence
could be seen.

"She's pregnant?" Calli shouted in disbelief.
Thank goodness, neither Darrien nor Callista could hear her.

Darrien was all smiles as he lifted Callista
off her feet and swung her around. She giggled with delight, though
she protested he should put her down. Darrien did, but he didn't
release her completely. He leaned toward her and kissed her with a
searing caress which made Calli blush and turn away.

As their murmurs and breathing became more
labored with passion, she felt her cheeks burn and hoped she would
be released from this dream… vision… or whatever the hell it was
before she was forced to endure the couples' lovemaking.